Lose Weight Without Feeling Hungry

How to Lose Weight Without Feeling Hungry

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Two things you might not know about me: I love to eat and I hate feeling hungry! I used to think these qualities ruined my chance for weight-loss success. Luckily I was wrong and I've learned that feeling hungry is more than just no fun: it’s not healthy and can actually make it harder to lose weight.

The Secret to Losing Weight For GoodYou don't have to follow a strict diet plan to lose extra pounds and keep them off. In fact, the best strategy is very straightforward: fill up on nutrient-dense foods throughout the day. Rather than focusing on how much you’re eating, it’s much more effective to watch what you’re eating. It's almost impossible to overeat if your plate is filled with high-fiber, nutrient-packed foods.

I made the shift from calorie counting (and constant frustration) to filling up and leaning out (without counting calories) by adopting a vegan lifestyle. By eliminating animal products from my diet, I was able to make lasting positive changes in my life, including weight loss, increased energy, better complexion, improved athletic performance (beach volleyball), and relief of all digestive problems. To top it off, every meal I eat tastes amazing and leaves me completely satisfied.

How to Get StartedDrastically changing your diet overnight can seem overwhelming (and rarely leads to lasting change), so take it one step at a time. Start with one food substitution and slowly add in others. As my friend and New York Times-best-selling author Kathy Freston says: "Leaning in is about setting an intention for what you want and then nudging yourself ever so gently in that direction, even if getting there seems impossible . . . It’s all about crowding out, not cutting out."

Here are a few simple swaps to get more plant-based foods into your diet:

1. Always Eat Breakfast
Eating breakfast provides your body with energy to fuel physical activity throughout the morning. Plus, eating a healthy meal the morning may help you avoid the temptation to reach for a quick fix at the vending machine when your stomach starts growling around 11 a.m.

Try: a quinoa or oatmeal bowl to get a combination of complex carbs, protein, fiber, and healthy fat. Start with one half cup of hot grains (of your choice) and add almond milk, walnuts, berries, cinnamon, and honey. If this is not convenient, try a piece of multigrain toast with almond butter and banana.

2. Snack Smarter
The best snacks to keep you feeling energized are a combination of protein and carbs. Just like eating breakfast, snacking on nutrient-packed foods throughout the day can help you avoid becoming so hungry that you'll reach for anything. (Trust me, your body would rather you eat an apple and an ounce of cheese than a bag of chips from the convenience store.)

Try: snacking on small amounts of nuts, fresh fruit, or veggies and hummus every two or three hours.

3. Choose Complex Carbohydrates
Yes, you can eat carbs and have a knockout body — just make sure you eat the right carbs. Avoid processed and refined carbs (the white stuff) and choose complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, oats, and legumes. Complex carbs provide dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which slow down digestion and make you feel fuller longer (the key to weight-loss success). Refined carbs are highly processed and often full of added sugars. These foods break down easily to supply quick energy in the form of glucose. This is a good thing if your body needs quick energy (if you're running a race or playing a sport), but most people are better off choosing unprocessed or minimally processed whole foods that contain natural sugars, like fructose in fruit.

4. Enjoy the Good Fats
Just like carbohydrates, not all fats are created equal either. The "good" fats (omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA) are very beneficial to your health. Research shows strong evidence that the omega-3s EPA and DHA can boost heart, brain, joint, eye, and skin health.

Try: fatty fish like salmon and tuna and fish oil supplements, which are the easiest significant sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

5. Drink Water All Day Long
Water is the elixir of good health. Staying hydrated does everything from boosting energy levels to promoting healthy, glowing skin. Drinking water also helps to flush out toxins and waste products in the body.

Try: drinking two eight-ounce glasses of water before every meal. You'll not only hydrate your body, but you'll be less likely to overeat during the meal.

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I read an article on this site http://treadmillshq.com about this same topic. I personally fill up on veggies and a little bit of chicken every day. I find this keeps me full for hours. Its always a different mix of veggies I use. I also have diet shakes to stay full in between. I rarely have them with food as this tends to gain weight.